WE can confirm that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, would conveniently satisfy the requirements of the Guinness Book of Records, as the most mobile prominent Nigerian Politician in recent times.

The resignation of Atiku from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has already sent shock in the spine of all political gladiators, as the former Vice President warms up for the big fight ahead of 2019.

Atiku in the long statement he issued on Friday, alluded that he had no reason to remain in the APC, because the party had lost its bearing.

It was reliably gathered that Atiku will on Saturday seal his “revitalized marriage” with the PDP, at his Jada Ward 1, in Adamawa, where already the Ward Chairman, the Local Government, and State Leaderships are all his “boys”, whom he facilitated their ascension to power, after many of them dumped the APC in the last couple of months.

Atiku did not abandon his allies, especially in the South-East, who refused to dump the PDP for the APC. Those close to Atiku said his biggest ambition in life is to become the President.

But clearly, actualizing this tall dream by Atiku will be very difficult in the APC, going by recent developments, including Buhari’s recent vigour, and the body language of those around him.

Unless he refuses the Right of First Refusal that the APC would give him, Buhari’s second term is like a sealed deal for now.

Sources said that was why Atiku, who came third behind ex-Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, during the party’s Presidential primaries ahead of 2015, decided to move out of the APC at this critical moment.

The argument is that he would be 73 years old by 2019, and by 2023 he would be around 77, meaning his struggle of ever becoming a President would drain as a dream.

This is more evident because by 2023, it would no longer be possible for the North to produce the President, considering the zoning arrangement that is increasingly becoming popular.

However, it will not be an easy ride for Atiku in the PDP either, as there are many predators already fighting to get the Presidential ticket.

The likes of ex-Governor Sule Lamido, ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, and even the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, among others, are all interested in the plump job.

Nonetheless, sources close to Atiku said he remains a formidable force, insisting that he had sealed a deal with the South-East, especially because of his support for restructuring.

“And for the South-West, the leaders there are bitterly aggrieved, because of the way they are being treated, and Atiku has reached out to them, they are negotiating”, a source said.

He said there is the likelihood that the South-West would throw their weight behind Atiku, and he would reciprocate in a similar manner, after he served out his tenure in the event he wins the Presidency.

Another source noted that Atiku is also planning to fully involve the South-South and South-East in the project.

Speaking of what many see as Atiku’s desperation, Mr. A.A Lawan, the Director of Atiku Support Group, said the former Vice President is not desperate.

“He only wants to liberate Nigerians from the shackles of underdevelopment. We all know that he is rich, and has excelled in many businesses. His problem is not money, he wants to serve the people”, he said.

Atiku had vied for the Presidency in 1993, placing third after MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, in the Social Democratic Party, SDP, primaries.

In 1998, he was elected Governor of Adamawa State. While still Governor-elect, he was selected by the PDP Presidential candidate, Olusegun Obasanjo, as his running mate. The duo went on to win the Presidential election in February 1999, and Abubakar was sworn-in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected Vice President, on May 29, 1999.

Over the years, Atiku had a stint in many political parties, including the PDP, ACN, back to PDP, PDM, APC, and now going back to PDP, all for the single dream of becoming President.

Pundits believe that he would indeed have to fight a big battle this time around, because it may likely be his last stint.